Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has responded to Mohammad Mahfud MD's plan to resign from his role as the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs. This decision comes in the wake of Mahfud's criticisms of Jokowi's administration during the recent presidential debate.

Jokowi acknowledged that it is Mahfud's right to make such a decision and expressed his utmost respect for it.

"Yes, that's his right, and I highly respect it," said Jokowi at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in Jakarta on Wednesday morning.

Mahfud declared his plan to step down from his position in Jokowi's cabinet on Tuesday. Mahfud said that he had reached an agreement with his running mate, presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo, and decided to resign from Jokowi's cabinet at "the right time".

"With all due respect to President Jokowi, I am waiting for the timing (to resign) so that no one is offended," said Mahfud in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday. 

"After the debate (presidential debate on Sunday), I read out a statement expressing my gratitude to President Jokowi," Mahfud added.

During the debate, Mahfud criticized Jokowi's administration for frequently implementing misguided policies that undermined the interests of the general public in favor of investments and industrialization.

Ganjar-Mahfud is competing against Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who is Jokowi's oldest son, in the 2024 Presidential Election.
 

Add as a preferred source on Google +